Draft-gear.



J; F. COURSON.

DRAFT GEAR. MPLIGATION FILED m'zg, 1913.

l128,853 Patented Jan.5,1915.

2 SHEETS- SHEET l.

COURSON.

DRAFT GEAR` FILED MAY 29,1913.

Patented Jan. 5. 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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.appiicaimn met it-ammala. semina. man.

To all whom ztma concern.' y l `Be it known it at .1, JoHuF. Connsoin a citizen of the United States, residing at Pitcairn, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in'Draft- Gears, of which `the followingis a specification. i

My inventionconsists of an improvement in draft gears for railway cars, etc., and has for its object to provide a gear lof simple construction and high ehciency, designed to utilize thek resisting power of springs and the wedge releasingl qualities of wedge blocks co-acting with housings or casings therefor, arranged between a central buiiing member and the rear portion of a surrounoling frame or casing, arranged and adapted to effect lateral compression of the spring members upon longitudinal movement .of the friction-creating member co-acting with the friction producing spring housings.

The invention, as shown, also discloses the use of a novel construction of expanding friction-creating wedge blocks anda coacting separating 'wedge' having front and rear wedge members, which, however, is not necessarily a part ofthe present invention, but is shown as associated therewith, and

which forms the subject matter. of a separate application, to be hereafter filed.l

The invention, as disclosed, alsoembodies the mounting of the apparatus in the car framing and the several parts necessary for its installation andjj operation with the car structure.

rlhe particular object of the present invention is vto provide, in a gear of this type, means for exerting resisting spring pressure and frictional resistance between the coaeting friction members, the construction preferably utilizing a plurality of spring and friction units, for successive operation, in combination with a relatively movable wedge member. These objects are accomplished, in one )referred form of the apparatus, hereina ter described, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is al central horizontal sectional view of the complete apparatus, in normal position, indicated by the section line Ll.

. of Fig. 2, the spring housings being shown in elevation, position ,of broken away.

and illustrating the relative the friction member, partly Fig. 2 is a. longitudinal vervmecicat'ion of-Lettersatent.

ybar of a coupler ixedly connected with the which block atentieaaangymmm tical sectional view, Il. 11, of Fig. l. Fig. 43 is a cross-sectional' view, indicated bythe line HI. IH. of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a crossl sectional view, indicated by the line IV. l of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing a modified construction of the front wedge-actuated friction members. Fig. 6 is a lperspective detail view of the front expanding wedge. Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the friction shoes actuated thereby. Fig.l 8 isa view similar `to Fig. 1, showing the gear under compression. Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective detail views of the casing, on -a reduced scale. Fig. 11 is a perspective detail. View of the Wedge memberl for the spring housings. Figs. 12 and 13 are similar views of the front and rear spring housings respectively.

n the drawings, 2 represents the drawyoke 3 by transverse bolts 4 in the manner customary in this art, said yoke embracing the casing 5, at top and bottom, as shown, the yoke and Vcasing being located between the central sills 6, 6. bearing block or piece 7 is set against the rear end of casing 5, and its closing end wall, hereinafter described, against the outer 'end of bears the rounded end 8 of yoke 3 with an interposed lilling block 9, preferably secured to the end of the yoke. The front stops 10 extend inwardly from each side of the center sill 6 which sustain the pulling effect of the draft gear and iinpart it to said sills, while similar rear stops 10 act to receive and impart buiing strains in the same manner.

' The casing 5 is generally rectangularjn cross section, and is mounted between the indicated tyxthe" iin@ sills 6, supported upon any suitable cross member 11 between the sills, able clearance for the yoke 3. When the casing is intended to be used in connection' with the supplemental front expanding wedges, its front end portion 12 may be made cylindricahas shown, with inner cylindrical friction faces 13 adapted to reoei-ve the several friction shoes 14 and to co-act therewith as they are expanded by the central bufling wedge B. Said wedge abuts by its forward end against a follower 15 normally engaging the front stops 10 and rear end of the drawbar 2, wedge B havingtwo sets of Wedge faces, b and b having suit- 18 of the cylindrical extension 12 of case 5 At its rear portion, casing 5 is open and provided with a closing gate or wall 16 having edge portions extending inwardly at each side into. receiving slots or cavities 16 in the rear side portions of the casing, or mounted in any other suitable manner, the door thus closing the interior and providing by its inner face a backing for the rear spring housing. It will be obvious, also, that any other suitable construction of-casing may beadopted.

The spring housings, where two are used, are indicated by the numerals 17, 18, each inclosing a coiled spring 19 of well-known construction, bearing by one end against the inner end of the housing, and by its other end against the opposite side wall of the casing 5, the housings and springs being in alternating positions, as shown. The front spring housing 17 is provided at top and bottom with laterally extending wedge abutmerts 20 having wedge faces 21 of sufiiciently blunt angle to insure release, beyond which are wedge faces 22, much more acute, and'adapted to exert greatly increased -pressure by the action of the co-acting acute wedge faces of the actuating wedge A. The rear spring casing 18 is provided at opposite sides with similar Wedge abutments 23 having wedge faces 24, also sufficiently blunt to insure free release.

rIhe wedge member A, as shown, is in the form of a bifurcated or double-sided frame having a central forwardly extending portion a adapted to receive the force of irpact from the drawbar in nuffing or to tra smit ,pullingstrains thereto. Each side member va", a of the wedge memberAextends backwardly, above and below the spring housings 17, 18, respectively, in engagement with inwardly extendingv longitudinal strips or guiding rib abutments 25 of casing 5. By this means the wedge member is maintalned in central alinement and is not defiected by its w'edging engagement with the spring housings. c

llhe wedge member A is provided at the inner sides of its side arm members a with blunt angle wedge faces a2 adapted to engage the faces 21 of spring housing 17, and similar faces a3 beyond faces a2 adapted to engage wedge faces 24 of spring housing 18.

, As shown, these wedge faces, and the wedge faces of the respective spring housings, are opposed to each other in directlon, so that as the wedge member A travels longitudinally across the sides of the housings in bufhng, or the housings are moved inwardly between the sidesI of the Wedge member in pulling, the action of' faces a, a8, on faces 21 and 24 is to force the housings laterally 1n opposite directions, compressing they springs therein by the back walls of the housings, against the opposing faces of the sidesv of casing 5. Forwardly beyond wedge faces a2 are acute angle wedge faces a, forming continuations of blunt angle faces a2, and operable to engage the acute angle wedge faces 22 of the first spring housing, and to bind thereagainst with powerful force and resulting friction.

It willbe observed from Fig. 1 that the initial engagement of wedge faces aL with faces 21 of the first housing 17 will operate to thrust the housing laterally to a considerable extent before wedge faces a3 engage faces 24 of the next adjacent housing 18, sufficient clearance space being provided to allow of the initial travel and action on the first housing, sufficient to substantially compress the first spring`19 to the full extent of itsmovement, so that when the second housing is engaged and thrust laterally, its resistance will be in addition or supplemental to that of the first housing and spring, thereby accumulating the frictional and spring resistance. Just after wedge faces ai3 commence to engage faces 24 of the rear housing, the acute angle faces a4 of the wedge member A also engage corresponding faces 22 of the first housing 17, binding thereagainst with intensified pressure, al most completely closing the spring, and effecting additional resisting friction. This insures the releasing of wedge faces a4 and4 22 by the last portion of the return expansion of the spring of the rear housing. As shown, the adjacent sides of the housings will be forced into tight contact with each other, and the opposite back wall ,of the rear housing will also be forced into tight Contact with the rear wall 15 of the casing, so that as the housings are forced laterally in opposite directions, they generate a high degree of friction between them and the rear vone against'the end of the casing. By these means the friction resistance is greatlv multiplied and is developed in proportion to the pressure generated by either pulling or buffing shocks. Upon release of pressure, the wedge member A will be thrust forwardly by the expanding action of spring 19 of Maaate While l have shown in 'the principalfig' ures the wedge B as made in one piece, it will be understood that it may consist of two separate wedges B and B2, with an intervening spring b2, as clearly vshown in Fig. 5, the construction of the shoes 14: andA of the other co-acting parts being as already described. The advantage of this construction is that the equalization of the bearing contact of the Wedge members is insured, notwithstanding any variation in the location or finishing of the wedge faces c2, c", of the several shoes.

The construction and operation ofthe gear will be readily understood from the foregoing. description. lt is comparatively simple and compact, readily assembled or taken apart, or applied to the under-frame of a car structure, while being capable of generating an extremely high degree of resistance to and absorption of the several shocks arising in the usual car service.

'Having described my invention, what l claim is:

1. lin a friction draft gear, the combina' tion with the supporting frame and the relatively movable drawbar, -of a spring and a laterally movable housing therefor within the supporting frame Vprovided with blunt and acute Wedge faces, a longitudinally movable wedge member having corresponding faces for engagementY thereof adapted to shift the housing laterally on inward movement, and additional means resisting inward movement of the wedge member, substantially as set forth. l

2. In a friction draft gear, the combination with the supporting frame and the rela tively movable draw bar, of a plurality of oppositely acting movable wedge members in frictional engagement with each other, resisting springs therefor, and a longitudinally movable wedge member adaptedl to transmit drawbar strains to said wedge members successively transversely to the direction of said strains, substantially asset forth. l

3. Resisting mechanism for a draft :gear of the class described consisting of a casing adapted to be mounted in a car frame provided with longitudinal guides, a wedge ttl member mounted insaid guides, oppositely acting transversely movable wedge members engaging said Wedge member and each other and resisting springs therefor, substantially as set forth.

4. Resisting mechanism for a draft gear of the class described consisting of a casing ladapted to be mounted in a car frame for longitudinal movement therein and provided with interior longitudinal guides, spring mechanism, a housingktherefor having Wedge` portions, anda bifurcated Wedge member mounted in said guides embracing the housing and adapted to transmit buiing or pulling strains to said housing transversely to :ists lline of movement, substantially as set ort f 5. In a friction draft gear, the combination with the drawbar and car frame, of a casing having `longitudinal guides,"means closing the rear end of the casing, means,V

connecting the casing `with the drawbar, spring mechanism' within the casing, a housing therefor having wedge portions onV opposite sides, and a longitudinal' bifurcated Wedge member having co-acting wedge porl tions operable to transmit bufling or pulling strains to said housing and from saidl housf, ing to the casing and from the casing to the car frame, substantially as set forth.

6. ln a friction draft gear, the combination with the drawbar and car frame, of a casing having longitudinal guides, means closing the rear end of the casing and means connecting it with the drawbar, spring mechanism within the casing, a ,housing therefor having wedge portions, a longitudinal wedge member having co-acting wed e portions operable to transmit buiiing or puing strains to said housing and fromsaid housing to the casing and from the casing to the car frame, vand supplemental wedge mechanism interposed between the front end of the. wedge' member and the rearend of the drawbar, substantially as set forth.

7 fn a friction draft gear, the combination with the drawbar and car frame, of a casing having longitudinal guides, means closing the rear end of the casing, means connecting the casing with the drawbar, a plurality of resisting springs engaging opposite inner sides of the casing, housings therefor Ahaving oppositely disposed ,Wedge portions, and a longitudinal wedge member slidably mounted between the guides of the casing having wedge faces adapted to successively engage the wedge portions of the housings-and to move them transversely in opposite directions against the springs, substantially as set forth. f 8. In a friction draft gear, the combination with the drawbar and car frame, of av casing having longitudinal guides, means closing the rear 'end of the casing, means :hem` in opposite directions against thef g springs.

plurality of resisting springs engaginggopposite inner sides of the casing, housings therefor having oppositely disposed Wedge portions, and a longitudinalwedge member slidably mounted between the guides of thel 'tively movable drawbar, of a plurality of springs, each bearing by its end against the frame, oppositely acting housings therefor frictionally engaging each other, each having Wedge faces,- and a longitudinally movable Wedge member adapted to engage said housings and compress the springs succes- .sively against the frame.

10. In a friction draft gear, the combination -With the supporting frame and a relatively'movable drawbar, of a plurality of springs, each bearing by its end against the frame, oppositely acting housings therefor frictionally engaging each other each having Wedge faces, and a longitudinally mvable Wedge member adapted to first engage one of said housings and compress its spring against the frame and While maintaining Wedge action and compression on said housing and spring to then engage another of said housings and compress its spring against the frame.

1l. In a friction draft gear, the `combination of a casing, a drawbarfmeans connecting the casing and drawbar, a spring,V a laterally movable housing therefor, a longitudinally movable Wedge member adapted to shift the housing laterally to compress the spring, and supplemental Wedge mechanism interposed between the front end of the ibvedgemember and the rear end of the draw- 12. In a friction draft gear, the-combination of a casing,l a drawbar, means connect- -ing the casing and drawbar, springs engag- 1ng o posite sides of the casing, housings there or having oppositely disposed Wedge portions and frictionally engaging each other, and a longitudinal Wedge member having Wedge faces adapted to, engage the Wedge. portions of the,housings and move 1'3, In a friction draft gear, the combination of a casing, a drawbar, means connecting the casing and drawbar, a plurality of oppositely acting spring housings having springs and Wedge faces, and a longitudinally movable Wedge. member adapted to shift the first housing laterally and to then shift the next adjacent housing in the opposite direction.

14. In a friction draft gear, the combination of a casing, a drawbar, means connecting the casing and drawbar, a plurality of oppositely acting spring housings having springs and wedge faces, and a longitudinally movable wedge member adapted to shift the first housing laterally and to then shift the next adjacent housing in thc opposite direction, and to continue to shift the first housing to a lesser degree. 15'. In a friction draft gear, the combination of a casing, a .drawbar, means connecting the casing and drawbar, a plurality of oppositely acting spring housings having springs and Wedge faces, and a longitudinally movable Wedge member adapted to shift the first housing laterally and to then shift the next adjacent housing in the opposite direction, and to maintain pressure on the first housing.

16.4 In a friction draft gear, the combinai tion of a casing, a drawbar, means connect- 'ing the casing and drawbar, a `plurality of oppositely acting spring housings having Wedge faces and springs engaging the casing anda longitudinally movable wedge member adapted to force the first housing against the next adjacent one and to shift the first housing laterally in frictional en- -gagement with said adjacent one. j

17. In a friction draft gear, the combination of a casing, a drawbar, means connecting the casing and drawbar, a -plurality of oppositely acting spring housings having Wedge faces and springs engaging the casing and a longitudinally movable Wedge member adapted to force the first housing against the next adjacent one and to shift the housings laterally in opposite directions and in frictional engagement with each other.l

18. The combination With car framing, of

a movable casing mounted therein-` a draw-Y bar connected with the casing, a spring and a laterally movable housing therefor both confined Within the casing, and a longitudinally movable Wedge member Within the casing operable across the outside of the housing adapted to shift it laterally to compress the spring.

19. The combination With car framing, of a movable casing mounted therein, a drawbar connected With the casing, a plurality of springs and laterally movable housings therefor both confined Within the casing, and a longitudinally movable Wedge member Within the casing operable across the outside of the housings adapted to shift them laterally in opposite directions to compress the springs.

20. In a friction draft gear, the combination of a movable casing, a drawbar connected with the casing, a spring, a laterally In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiX my movable housing therefor Within the` casing signature in the presence of two Witnesses. provided with Wedge portions, and a longitudinally movable Wedge member within the JOHN F' 'COURSON 5 casing embracing the housing and adapted Witnesses:

to transmit buling or pulling strains to said C. M.- CLARKE,

housing transversely to its line of movement. FREDK STAUB. 

